Chicago’s relationship with the tech sector is a little more standoffish than, say, Silicon Valley’s. It’s an important industry, but one of many that power its economy, says Cushman & Wakefield.

That being said, the firm’s Tech Cities 2.0 report notes that Chicago has established itself as an important city for technology, and as an increasingly appealing choice for tech tenants and their young employees. Companies such as Microsoft, Google and Salesforce have established a major presence downtown.

Furthermore, Cushman & Wakefield reported that non-tech companies that rely on strong tech functions are moving here because of the strong talent pool.

“A confluence of factors such as access to talent, top universities, a relatively low cost of living, and relatively inexpensive real estate costs make Chicago a very appealing city for tech entrepreneurs and for larger, more established tech firms looking to scale,” said James Stein of Cushman & Wakefield Chicago.

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